Food & Drink
The Manchester restaurants and bars shortlisted for the MFDF Awards 2026
Daisy Jackson
The Manchester Food and Drink Festival Awards – better known as the MFDF Awards – have revealed the shortlist of local restaurants, bars, cafes, chefs, and more that are up for the city’s ultimate accolade.
Dozens of outstanding local businesses are nominated across 17 categories, covering everything from food trucks to Michelin Star chefs.
The winners will be revealed at the MFDF Awards ceremony on Monday 25 January, which this year will be held at Medlock Square’s City Hall for the first time.
Sponsored once again by Therme Manchester, the MFDF Awards celebrate the outstanding talent in Manchester’s hospitality scene.
Categories have been chosen to showcase new openings, talented chefs and producers, neighbourhood favourites, top restaurants, great pubs, and plenty more.
The shortlist has been selected from a list of submissions by the MFDF Awards judging panel, made up of leading food and drink critics, writers and industry experts.
As well as the public vote, judges will mystery shop venues in a number of categories and will score venues based on their experiences. The mystery shopping and public voting period will end at midnight on 11 January 2027 when the polls will be counted and combined with the judges’ scores and the winner of each category will be chosen.
The awards are now open to public vote on the MFDF website HERE.
Alexa Stratton-Powell, Awards Director of the MFDF Awards, said: “We’re proud to reveal this year’s MFDF Awards shortlists and shine a spotlight on the very best of Greater Manchester’s food and drink scene.
“The awards celebrate the incredible talent, creativity and diversity that make our region a world-class food and drink destination. We’re encouraging everyone to get behind the nominees by voting for your favourites, visiting the shortlisted venues and showing your support for our brilliant hospitality industry.
“We’re also looking forward to bringing the industry together on 25 January 2027 for a fantastic night of celebration and to crown this year’s winners.”
The Community Food and Drink Project of the Year, sponsored by Therme Manchester, is being decided through a separate judging process. The award celebrates initiatives making a positive difference to communities across Greater Manchester, from tackling food poverty and promoting sustainability to improving access to healthy food and bringing communities together.
The Howard and Ruth Award for Outstanding Achievement will also be presented on the night to recognise an outstanding contribution to Greater Manchester’s food and drink industry, with no public shortlist for the category.
The Manchester restaurants and bars on the MFDF 2026 shortlist
1. Affordable Eats Venue of the Year (Sponsored by Therme Manchester)
Sips n Dips in Levenshulme
Noodle Alley in Chinatown
Credit: The Manc Group
Al Madina – 76 Wilmslow Rd, Manchester M14 5AL
Noodle Alley – 56A Faulkner Street, Manchester M1 4FH
Sips & Dips – 994 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WN
Que Huong Viet – 76–78 Oldham Rd, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5EB
Kabana – 52 Back Turner Street, Manchester M4 1FR
Bahn Mi 782 – 782 Wilmslow Rd, Didsbury, Manchester M20 2DR
Zaytoni’s – 12 Oldham St, Manchester M1 1JQ
Cafe San Juan – 27 St Petersgate, Stockport, Manchester SK1 1EB
Previous winner – Double Zero
2. Takeaway of the Year
Kool Runnings – 118 Chorlton Road, Old Trafford, Stretford, Manchester M15 4AN
Rita’s Reign – Piccadilly, Manchester M1 1LY
Chicken Run – 6 Yarburgh St, Whalley Range, Manchester M16 7FJ
Viet Deli – 22 Blackfriars Street, Manchester M3 5BQ
Levenshulme Bakery – 842 Stockport Rd, Levenshulme, Manchester M19 3AW
The Post Box Shawarma – 543 Wilbraham Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9PP
Bada Bing – 125 Oldham St, Manchester M4 1LN
Patel’s Pies – 9 Tatton Rd S, Heaton Moor, Stockport SK4 4LU
Previous winner – This & That
3. Cafe or Coffee Shop of the Year
Auntie Lou’s cafe
Just Between Friends, Ancoats
Credit: The Manc Group
Fort Coffee – 255 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
Idle Hands Coffee – 35 Dale St, Manchester M1 2HF
Artista Perfetto – 130 Oldham Rd, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6BG
Auntie Lou’s – Stockport Market Place, Stockport SK1 1ES
Siop Shop – 53 Tib St, Manchester M4 1LS
Just Between Friends Coffee – 56 Tib Street, Manchester M4 1LG
Convene – 17 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
Companio Bakery – 35 Radium St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AD
Previous winner – Something More Productive
4. Wine Offering of the Year
Kallos – 3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford M3 7HD
Ad Hoc – 28 Edge Street, Manchester M4 1HN
Cork of the North – 13 Northenden Rd, Sale M33 2DH
The Dilly Deli – 1 Little Underbank, Stockport SK1 1LA
Reserve Wines – 176 Burton Road, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 1LH
Carrington’s – 322 Barlow Moor Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 8AY
Portfolio MCR – 67–69 Bridge St, Manchester M3 3BQ
Erst – 9 Murray Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS
Previous winner – Flawd Wine
5. Food Trader of the Year
Rizzo’s
Buttercup on Deansgate
Credit: The Manc Group
Buttercup – 225 Deansgate, Manchester M3 4EN
Pico’s Tacos – Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU
Slice Culture – Unit 18, Track Brewing Co, Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester M1 2NP
More Joy Food Co – Exhibition, 56 Peter Street, Manchester M2 3NQ
Baity – Kargo MKT, The Quays, Salford M50 3AG
Rizzo’s Sicilian Food – 296 Oxford Rd, Manchester M13 9NS
The Thai Food Van – Address not provided
Oh Mei Dumplings – Address not provided
Previous winner – Rack
6. Foodie Neighbourhood of the Year
Levenshulme
Marple & Marple Bridge
Chorlton
Rusholme
Westhoughton
Altrincham
Previous winner – Stockport
7. Independent Drink Producer of the Year
Cloudwater’s taproom
Balance Brewing taproom near Piccadilly
Credit: The Manc Group
Hip Pop – Department Bonded Warehouse, 18 Lower Byrom Street, Manchester M3 4AP
Balance Brewing & Blending – Unit 10, Sheffield Street, Manchester M1 2DN
Sureshot Brewing – 5 Sheffield Street, Manchester M1 2DN
Runaway Brewery – 9–11 Astley Street, Stockport SK4 1AW
Cloudwater Brew Co – Piccadilly Trading Estate, Unit 9, Gidding Rd, Manchester M1 2NP
Pomona Island Brew Co – Waybridge Industrial Estate, 33 Daniel Adamson Rd, Salford M50 1DS
Stiff Tea Brewing Company – Address not provided
Chu-Lo – Beehive Lofts, Jersey Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6JG
Previous winner – Track Brewing
8. Independent Food Producer of the Year
Wong Wong Bakery – 32 Princess Street, Manchester M1 4LB
Fizzles Pickles + Preserves – Unit 109, Pollard Yard, 15 Pollard St E, Manchester M40 7QX
Sticky Fingers – 39 Great Underbank, Stockport SK1 1NE
Loafi – 10 Square St, Ramsbottom, Bury BL0 9BE
Patel’s Pies – 9 Tatton Rd S, Heaton Moor, Stockport SK4 4LU
Half Dozen Other – Unit 17 Redbank, Cheetham Hill, Manchester M4 4HF
Companio Bakery – 35 Radium St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6AD
La Chouquette – 812A Wilmslow Road, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6UH
Previous winner – Pollen Bakery
9. Neighbourhood Venue of the Year
The Pearl
Ornella’s Kitchen
The Pearl – 425 Bury New Road, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1AF
Cafe Continental – 5 Melbourne St, Stalybridge SK15 2JE
Porta Tapas Bar – 41 Lapwing Ln, West Didsbury, Manchester M20 2NT
Fold Bistro & Bottle Shop – 7 Town St, Marple Bridge, Stockport SK6 5AA
Sips & Dips – 994 Stockport Rd, Manchester M19 3WN
Bar San Juan – 56 Beech Rd, Chorlton-cum-Hardy, Manchester M21 9EG
Ornella’s Kitchen – 10 Manchester Rd, Denton, Manchester M34 3LE
The Mekong Cat – 47 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
Previous winner – Stretford Canteen
10. Pub or Beer Bar of the Year
The Angel Pub – 6 Angel St, Manchester M4 4BQ
The Balance Taproom – 10 Sheffield St, Manchester M1 2ND
The Peveril of the Peak – 127 Great Bridgewater St, Manchester M1 5JQ
Victoria Tap – Victoria Station Approach, Manchester M3 1WY
Track Brewing Co Taproom – Unit 18, Piccadilly Trading Estate, Manchester M1 2NP
The Magnet Freehouse – 51 Wellington Rd N, Stockport SK4 1HJ
The City Arms – 46–48 Kennedy St, Manchester M2 4BQ
The Smithfield Market Tavern – 37 Swan St, Manchester M4 5JZ
Previous winner – The Marble Arch Inn
11. Great Service Award
Kallos – 3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford M3 7HD
Blacklock Manchester – 37 Peter Street, Manchester M2 5GB
Stray – Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU
10 Tib Lane – 10 Tib Lane, Manchester M2 4JB
Speak in Code – 7 Jacksons Row, Manchester M2 5ND
Schofields Bar – 194 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3ND
Hawksmoor – 186 Deansgate, Manchester M3 3WB
Winsome – 74 Princess Street, Manchester M1 6JD
Previous winner – Maray
12. Low or No Offering of the Year
Hinterland – 16–20 Turner Street, Manchester M4 1DZ
Dishoom – 32 Bridge Street, Manchester M3 3BT
Double Down – 7 Jacksons Row, Manchester M2 5ND
Kerb – 04 Henry St, Ancoats, Manchester M4 5DD
North Taproom – Circle Square, Manchester M1 7FA
Cloudwater Brew Co – Piccadilly Trading Estate, Unit 9, Gidding Rd, Manchester M1 2NP
Lina Stores – St Johns Court, 17 Quay St, Manchester M3 3HN
Caravan – 6 Goods Yard St, Manchester M3 3BG
Previous winner – Nell’s Pizza
13. Bar of the Year
Bar Shrimp – 7 New York St, Manchester M1 4JB
Stray – Mackie Mayor, 1 Eagle Street, Manchester M4 5BU
Renae – 45–47 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1NA
Ōdiobā – 26 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JE
Bar Posie – Unit 1, 17 Marble St, Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 3AW
The Apple Core – 26 Middle Hillgate, Stockport SK1 3AY
Double Down – 7 Jacksons Row, Manchester M2 5ND
Bruk – 8 Little Underbank, Stockport SK1 1JT
Previous winner – Speak in Code
14. Newcomer of the Year
Bar Posie – Unit 1, 17 Marble St, Spring Gardens, Manchester M2 3AW
Convene – 17 Lower Hillgate, Stockport SK1 1JQ
Parosna – 43 Barlow Moor Rd, Didsbury, Manchester M20 6TW
Proloco – 74 Great Ancoats St, Manchester M4 5GU
Bar Shrimp – 7 New York St, Manchester M1 4JB
Bar Caput – 71 Great Underbank, Stockport SK1 1PE
The Dilly Deli – 1 Little Underbank, Stockport SK1 1LA
Hatter’s Food and Drinks Hall – 16 Market St, Denton, Manchester M34 2XW
Previous winner – Stow
15. Chef of the Year
Jamie Pickles – Stow
Shaun Moffatt – Winsome
Jess Furniss – WTLGI
Gary Weir – Open Fire / Tartuffe
Sian Wilson – Bar Posie
Tom Barnes – Skof
Rosie Maguire – Higher Ground
Brit Wardle – 10 Tib Lane
Previous winner – Matt Bennett (The Pearl)
16. Restaurant of the Year
Kallos – 3 Bankside Boulevard, Salford M3 7HD
Stow – 62 Bridge Street, Manchester M3 3BW
Higher Ground – Faulkner House, New York Street, Manchester M1 4DY
Winsome – 74 Princess Street, Manchester M1 6JD
Erst – 9 Murray Street, Ancoats, Manchester M4 6HS
The Pearl – 425 Bury New Rd, Prestwich, Manchester M25 1AF
Adam Reid at The French – 16 Peter Street, Manchester M60 2DS
The Trof – 6–8 Thomas St, Manchester M4 1EU
Previous winner – SKOF
The awards are now open to public vote on the MFDF website HERE.
Tickets for the event can also be purchased by contacting the MFDF awards team via email. Please email [email protected].
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Featured image: The Manc Group
Dining and Cooking